Franklin Institute Honors Outstanding Achievements In Science And Technology

The rich tradition of the Franklin Institute Awards dates back to 1824, when Philadelphia was the nation's center of innovation and manufacturing. Regular exhibitions of manufactured goods led to recognition of the best achievements in science and technology; which over the years, evolved into the Franklin Institute Awards.

It has been bestowed upon such luminaries as Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Marie and Pierre Curie, Orville Wright and Jane Goodall. In fact, many Franklin Institute Award winners have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize. The contributions of this year's medalists range from the identification of the gene responsible for Huntington's Disease, to the discovery that water existed on Mars, indicating the potential for life on other planets.

The 2007 Franklin Institute Laureates

* Norman R. Augustine, Lockheed Martin Corporation (Ret.)

* Bower Award for Business Leadership - For his leadership of Lockheed Martin, his extensive public service, and implications for economic competitiveness driven by innovation and improved science and math education.

* Stuart K. Card, Palo Alto Research Center

* Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science - For his contributions to the fields of human-centered computing; measuring how people use machines, our relationship with information and integrating machines effortlessly into our lives.

* Klaus Biemann, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

* Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry - For pioneering the development of mass spectrometry, used to determine structure of complex molecules including sequencing of peptides and proteins, thus enabling the field of proteomics.

* Robert H. Dennard, IBM

* Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering - For invention of computer memory circuits called DRAMS, small, fast and inexpensive enough to power the numerous modern day electronic devices that permeate our lives.

* Merton C. Flemings, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

* Benjamin Franklin Medal in Materials Engineering - For contributions to understanding aspects of solidification of metallic alloys; the development of semi-solid metalworking industry, which helps make sporting equipment, house-hold appliances and cars strong and light.

* Steven W. Squyres, Cornell University

* Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science - For discovery of water on Mars through "robotic geologists," the Mars Exploration Rovers, which have led to a greater understanding of the potential for life on other planets and life's evolution on Earth.

* Nancy S. Wexler, Columbia University

* Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science - For leading the combined efforts to identify the gene responsible for Huntington's Disease and establishing a model used to investigate genetic basis of other inherited diseases.

* Arthur B. McDonald, Queen's University (Canada) and Yoji Totsuka, University of Tokyo

* Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics - For their discovery that the three known types of elementary particles, neutrinos, change into one another when traveling long distances and have mass.

Beginning Tuesday, April 24th, the Franklin Institute Award medalists will be on hand to participate in a series of events and activities at The Franklin Institute that are open to middle school, high school and college students, as well as to the general public. Wednesday and Thursday, April 25th & 26th, each laureate will take part in a seminar or lecture focusing on their area of expertise at various universities throughout the city.

Beginning Tuesday, April 24th, the Franklin Institute Award medalists will be on hand to participate in a series of events and activities at The Franklin Institute that are open to middle school, high school and college students, as well as to the general public. Wednesday and Thursday, April 25th & 26th, each laureate will take part in a seminar or lecture focusing on their area of expertise at various universities throughout the city.

These events, all of which are free, provide a rare opportunity to meet, mingle with and "pick the brains" of some of the most exceptional minds in the world. Laureates' Laboratory will feature interactive demonstrations illustrating the specific concepts behind each laureate's work; Meet the Scientists, a lively discussion and Q & A session geared toward students, will be moderated by members of PACTS, (Partnerships for Achieving Careers in Technology and Science) one of The Franklin Institute's programs for middle and high school students in Philadelphia.

The culmination of this exciting week is the Gala Awards Ceremony and Dinner, which takes place on Thursday evening, April 26th at The Franklin Institute. -- www2.fi.edu